Career Diaries: Emilio Smeke, Founder of Daily Concepts, Talks About the Importance of Sustainability in Skin Care

After realizing many people only swapped out their bathing tools and accessories twice a year, Emilo Smeke made it his mission to create innovative and luxury bath products that let you know when it’s time to replace your loofahs and scrubbers. In 2011, he launched Daily Concepts, an environmentally friendly brand that seeks to elevate the shower and bathing experience. Here, we spoke with Smeke to learn more about his inspiration, sustainability efforts and what’s next for the brand.

Can you tell us about your background before you started Daily Concepts?

I joined the family business in 1994 in Mexico as a graphic designer. We are manufacturers of bath accessories and household products such as pillows, mattresses and even car sponges. I helped with the redesign process and product packaging. I moved to the United States in 2006 to expand our business and started designing products for private labels and brands, which is what inspired me to focus on creating my own brand that would change the game. 

What led you to start Daily Concepts?

I think showers and baths are very important, not only to do a physical cleanse, but a soul and psychological cleanse as well. I noticed the opportunity to elevate the shower and bath experience through market research when I saw that people were not changing their bath loofahs and scrubbers enough. I wanted to come up with a solution that wouldn’t harm the environment. After five years of research and design, I made a natural yet effective and functional bath accessory with reusable packaging and a smart technology that could let you know when it is time to be replaced. For example, the scrubbers and loofahs from the brand all come with a tag that lets you know it’s time to be replaced when the writing on the tag completely fades away. 

 

 

 

 

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Tell us about the ingredients used to make your products?

Many of our components are vegan. We use organic cottons, soy-based foams, biodegradable polymers, natural ingredients, silicones and natural stones to create our products. As brand owners and manufacturers, we have the responsibility to make things right.

Why do you think it’s important to extend the use of natural ingredients into skin-care tools?

Our most exposed and largest organ is the skin. Therefore, what we apply and the tools we use to apply anything onto our skin should be as natural and organic as possible. I believe in the wellness revolution — we need to use what nature gives us in the most natural form.

What’s your favorite product from the brand?

I have several, but the one that I can’t take a shower without is the Daily Body Scrubber. This scrubber is not just an exfoliating tool, but it also helps you save water because it lathers a lot and helps you get out of the shower quickly. Whether you use a bar of soap or body wash, the scrubber is easy to use and convenient to take with you. 

What do you like most about your job?

My favorite part of the job is creating new products and seeing what products are out there in all the markets around the world. Nothing excites me more than having my mind busy thinking of innovation and sustainability.

What’s next for the brand?

We are rapidly expanding worldwide, so my goal for 2021 is to reduce the use of plastic as much as possible, become 100% vegan and continue developing products that can change your day in a positive way while giving you a benefit that you can feel.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Emilio from Daily Concepts, Design: Hannah Packer

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